Pakistan earn Twenty20 series win

Second Twenty20 international, Dubai Stadium:
Pakistan 153-5 (20 ovs) beat New Zealand 146-5 (18.3 ovs) by seven runs
Match scorecard

Pakistan edged past injury-hit New Zealand by seven runs in the second of their two Twenty20 internationals in Dubai to take the series 2-0.

Teenager Umar Akmal top scored with an unbeaten 56 from 49 balls as Pakistan, who won the toss, made 153-5, while Kiwi seamer Ian Butler took 3-28.

Opener Brendon McCullum (47) and veteran Scott Styris (43) gave the Kiwis hope of levelling the series.

But they both fell in the last two overs as New Zealand fell just short.

Leading the side in the continued absence of skipper Daniel Vettori, McCullum - who hit three fours and a six - lost his first three partners to leave the Black Caps 66-3 in the 11th over.

606: DEBATE

" Pakistan have equalled the SA record of most consecutive wins in T20 - 7 wins on the trot. Now achieving that in what is called a 'lottery' type of format is quite good! "

However, he found a willing partner in 34-year-old Styris, and they added 66 for the fourth wicket before McCullum holed out to Shoaib Malik at long-on off the bowling of spinner Saeed Ajmal.

That left 24 needed from 10 balls - and it proved to be beyond even Styris, who perished off the last ball of the match after smashing two sixes in his 33-ball knock.

Earlier, Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal gave Pakistan a solid start, but when they both fell it was Akmal's younger brother Umar who took charge, assisted by cameos from Shahid Afridi (22) and Fawad Alam (17 not out).

"The Twenty20 victory was the much-needed win for us," said Twenty20 captain Afridi.

"We wanted to bring back smiles on the faces of our fans who were hurt after the one-day defeat, so I am very pleased."

McCullum added: "We gave them a run for their money.

"I knew that even 18 off the last over was possible, but Pakistan are a dangerous side and can do unbelievable things."

The result gives Pakistan a modicum of revenge after New Zealand won the preceding one-day international series 2-1.

The two sides now head to New Zealand for a three-Test series - preceded by a three-day warm-up game in Queenstown which begins on Wednesday.

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